Tag Archives: designer

Swimwear Trend: Exotic Florals

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Remember those Floridian floral prints of yesteryear… somewhat reminiscent of your grandma’s favorite house dress? Yes, those vintage prints were once gaudy, but now they’ve undergone an extreme makeover and are making a comeback in swimwear fashion.

The trend is being set… when it comes to designer swimwear, exotic floral prints of the bohemian-chic kind are officially what’s in for 2009.

Look for swimwear in a variety of hippie-inspired and ethnic “flower child” themes from the 60′s other retro motifs from designers like Red Carter and Salinas.

At the 2009 Swimwear Show in Miami, we saw this fabulous look first-hand at our appointment with Luli Fama. Both models are sporting vibrant, multi-colored bikinis from the “Encanto” line that feature cool patchwork and quilt-print designs for a hippie look.

To the left is a spicy, crystalyzed and ring Triangle top with matching tie sides. On the right is a sizzling halter top featuring an attractive ring-shaped detail in the center with a hipster bottom.

You can’t go wrong with this swimwear fashion trend. As long as the floral print has a retro feel to it, you’re in good shape. Then mix-n-match vintage Floral bikini tops with striped bottoms (and visa versa) and head to South Beach.

This Leopard-Print Bikini is the Cat's Meow

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We can’t even tame this fierce felion… a wild safari-print halter skirtini plucked straight from Betsey Johnson’s eclectic closet at the Miami Swimwear Show this summer.

The leopard-themed swimsuit features a well-constructed halter top accented with an attractive, gold-rimmed band. The bikini top ties in the neck and the back for maximum cleavage control.

And this sassy skirtini offers the best of both worlds — a bold bikini bottom with a flirtatious little skirt combo that offers some derriere coverage without giving up an ounce of sex appeal. Yes, this is perfect for girls with a little “junk in the trunk.”

Leave it to Betsey to come up with a stunner of a bikini that look’s like the cat’s meow. It’s from her “What’s New Pussycat” swimwear collection for 2009, and we can see it becoming a hit right here in sunny South Beach among the hit and uber-trendy crowd.

If you’re into felion and exotic prints, you should also check out Red Carter’s wildcat one-piece monokini and Vix’s animal-print two piece.

Anna Kosturova's "Rainbow Bikini" goes Hollywood

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It’s no secret, swimwear designer Anna Kosturova’s one-of-a-kind crochet creations have major star power. Ever since supermodel Marissa Miller graced the cover of SI wearing nothing but layers of turquoise beads paired with Kosturova’s super sexy “Beach Goddess” bikini bottom, the designer has been in uber-high demand.

We were on hand when the Czechoslovakian-born, Vancouver resident debuted her 2009 swimwear collection in July at the Swimwear Tradeshow inside the Miami Convention Center. Her designs were vibrant and alive, capturing the raw essence of hippie-chic ecclecticity in a way that only she can.

Rebecca Gayheart

Rebecca Gayheart

Actress Rebecca Gayheart was probably trying to channel her inner flowerchild when she donned what we’re pretty sure is Anna Kosturova’s “Rainbow Bikini” this summer during a getaway in St. Barts. Remeber her? She played Luke Perry’s mob-princess girlfriend on 90210.

These days she’s better known as Mrs. McSteamy – the real-life wife of “his royal hottness” (a.k.a Eric Dane), who stars as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloane on Grey’s Anatomy.

By the way, Anna Kosturova’s “Rainbow Bikini” is featured as a People.com editor’s pick for “must-have” swimuits. Gotta have one too? Click here and get one in rainbow or turquoise sequine stripes.

Photo courtesy of People.com.

Swimwear Trend for 2009: Romantic Ruffles

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Ruffles and frill-inspired bikinis are making big waves in swimwear for 2009. Our Swimwear Team saw models sporting everything ruffled from Triangle tops to bandeaus, and frilly skiritinis at the Miami Swim Show.

We saw lots of ruffles and frills peeking out whenever and wherever they could and we expect them to make headlines in next year’s swimwear. There were ruffled skirtinis from Betsey Johnson Swimwear, embellished frilly triangle tops by Pistol Panties, bandeaus, soft ruffle-edged bikini bottoms and flouncy cover-ups.

But we almost died and went to swimwear heaven when we stumbled across this unbelievably sexy, Ann Margaret-inspired bikini stunner from local Miami designer, Alexis Barbara.

Check out the wooden pull-thru hardware detail on the neck tie.

The ruffled Sliding Triangle to is elegant, sexy and oh-so-prissy! And if you’re a little light in the cleavage department, ruffles add layers that help to fill you out. The long, strappy tie sides help make this gorgeous two piece a winner in our book.

And it’s definitely a winner on sexy model/actress (bottom left) Michelle Hunziker. She was spotted on Formentera Island wearing a similar version of the Barbara bikini.